bridge/refrain is a short film exploring a young woman’s arrival to the land of the ancestors after falling victim to gun violence. Here, she discovers that though there is healing for her wounds and safety in the arms of benevolent beings, her work is far from done. A beautiful antique vanity serves as a vehicle through which she discovers her charge and her crown — black bodies buckling but not breaking under the weight of American life. She takes her place amongst those who uphold us.

The Crowned Ones.
Death is but a bridge. a refrain.
There is more work to be done, now.

bridge/refrain seeks to honor the feminine energy as both protector and nurturer, while confronting the epidemic of all manner of violence against women. In the tradition of photographer Imogen Cunningham, the film honors the woman’s form with a graceful eye, directed by Roni Nicole Henderson and lensed by collaborator Iyabo Kwayana.

Commissioned by the CMA, bridge/refrain is presented as a part of We Speak: Celebrating Women in the Arts. We Speak celebrates the strong artistic voices of trailblazing female artists. From Renée Cox: Soul Culture to Something’s Happening: The Big Art Katie Pell, We Speak explores the roles women play in the arts and in the advancement of our community while encouraging participants to find their own strength and foster collective action through the power of creativity. This project was supported by a Connected Communities grant from Central Carolina Community Foundation.